Actuating foot-rest for rocking-chairs.



F. W. G, LEIPERT. AOTUATING FOOT BEST FOR BOOKING GHAIRS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 8, 1910.

Patented May '31, 1910.

FRIEDRICH W. GURT LEIPERT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ACTUATING FOOT-REST FOR ROCKINGCI-IAIRS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 31, 1910.

Application filed January 8, 1910. Serial No. 537,039.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRIEDRICH IV. CURT LEIPERT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Actuating Foot-Rest for Rocking-Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to operating attachments for rocking chairs and its principal object is to provide a simple, durable and inexpenesive device of this character which can be readily applied to any type of rocking chair and which enables the operator to rest in a reclining position and at the same time actuate the attachment so as to produce a rocking motion of the chair.

\Vith these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts here inafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings :-Figure 1 is a side elevation of the attachment, the same being shown connected to a rocking chair, a portion of the chair being also shown in side elevation. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the attachment, a portion of the rocking chair being shown by dotted lines.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates a split sleeve designed to be placed about the lower portion of the front leg a of a rocking chair A, the said sleeve being provided with screws or other means for clamping it tightly upon the leg. A ledge 2 extends laterally from each sleeve at a point between the ends thereof and overhangs one end portion of an arm 3, the said arm being mounted on a stud 4 which extends laterally from the sleeve. Obviously with this arrangement of parts a single stud 4: can be provided for holding the arm 3 in position, the ledge 2 serving to prevent the arm from swinging upon the stud Auxiliary arms 5 are pivotally connected as at 6, to the front portions of the arms 3 and each of these auxiliary arms is maintained normally in an inclined position relative to the adjoining arm 3, by means of a stop projection 7 which extends laterally from the auxiliary arm 5 and bears upwardly against the arm 3. The two auxiliary arms 5 constitute supports for a foot rest 8 preferably in the form of a sheet metal plate having a ledge 9 extending from the lower edge thereof and in the direction of the rocking chair. This rest 8 has a central slot 10 extending thereinto from its upper edge and at right angles to said edge and an eye 11 extends from the ledge close to the lower end of the slot 10. A lever 12 is pivotally connected to this eye and has a bracket 13 slidably mounted upon it, said bracket being extended from the middle portion of a cross strip 14. Ears 15 extend perpendicularly from the ends of strip 14: and are pivotally connected, as at 16, to actuating strips 17 each of which is rigidly secured to an elevating arm 18. One of these arms 18 is pivotally mounted on each of the studs A and is retained thereon in any preferred manner as by means of a nut engaging said stud. A roller 19 is journaled upon the lower portion of each arm 18 and is designed to bear upon the surface on which the chair is mounted.

In using the device herein described the sleeves 1 are clamped upon the lower portions of the legs a and the arms 3 will thus be supported in front of the chair with the foot rest at a point where the feet of the occupant of the chair can be conveniently placed upon it. WVhen the chair is rocked forward the arms 18 are swung upon the studs 4, the arms 3 moving in the direction of the arms 18 and the strips 17 swinging upwardly so as to move the lever 12 upwardly and away from the foot rest 8. By then pressing against the lever it can be forced toward the slot 10 within the foot rest and thus cause the strips to swing downwardly and push backwardly on the rollers 19. Arms 18 will therefore elevate the front portion of the rocking chair. By pressing lightly with the toe portion of the shoe against the lever 12 the chair A can be kept in motion in the manner described.

It is of course to be understood that when the chair is rocked backward more than a predetermined distance the lever 12 is free to swing forward into the slot 10.

It will be seen that the device herein clescribed is very simple in construction, can be readily applied to a rocking chair and constitutes eflicient means whereby the chair can be actuated by an occupant in a reclining position.

Various changes can of course be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is 1. A rocking attachment for chairs, consisting of a foot rest having an opening therein, means for detachably connecting the foot rest to a chair and for holding said restfiXed relative to the chair, a roller supported arm pivotally mounted upon said means, an actuating lever fulcrumed upon the foot rest and movable into the opening therein, and means fixed relative to the arm and slidably engaging the lever for transmitting motion from said lever to the arm.

2. A rocking attachment for chairs, consisting of arms, means for detachably secur ing the arms to a chair and holding them fixed relative to the chair, a foot rest pivotally mounted between the arms, means for holding said foot rest normally at a predetermined angle to the arms, said foot rest having an opening therein, a lever fulcrumed upon the foot rest and movable into the opening, a roller supported arm pivotally connected to each of the first mentioned arms, and a connection between said lever and the roller supported arm, said connec tion being fixed relative to the arm and slidably connected to the lever.

3. An operating attachment for rocking chairs consisting of a slotted foot rest, means for fixedly attaching the same to the front portion of a rocking chair, an elevating arm pivotally connected to said means, an actuating lever fulcrumed upon the foot rest and movable into the slot, an actuating strip fixed relative to each elevating arm, a pivotal connection between said strips, and means upon said connection for slidably engaging the lever.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

FRIEDRICH W. CURT LEIPERT.

l/Vitnesses J. T. LAWSON, C. E. PREINKERT. 

